Shipping box or crate



B. SHUN K.

SHIPPING BOX 0R CRATE.

No. 312,173. Patented Feb. 10 1885.

I a/9n?" IN VENTOR.

v WITNESSES:

&. z %4Z g- ATTORNB To'aZZ whom it may concern.-

one of the end pieces detached, and Fig. 4. is

BENJAMIN SHUNK, OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

SHIPPlNG BOX OR CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 312,173, dated February 10, 1885.

Applicaticn tiled N vember '25, 1884. (No model.)

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN SHUNK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jacksonville, in the county of Duval and State of Florida, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Shipping Boxes or Grates; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of a shipping crate or box embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional View of the same. Fig. 3'is a perspective view of a horizontal sectional view taken through one of the ends of the box or crate.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to boxes or crates designed especially for shipping oranges and other fruits or vegetables that require strong and light boxing, and'at the same time free ventilation; and it has for its object to provide a box or crate which shall possess superior advantages in point of simplicity. inexpensiveness, durability, and general efficiency.

it-l1 these ends in view the invention consists in the improved construction of such box or crate, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings hereto annexed, A designates the'body of my improved box or crate. B B are the ends, and O the center piece or partition, which is usually employed for the purposes of adding strength, promoting ventilation, and preventing the weight of the contents from bruising or otherwise injuring the lower layers of the same. The said ends, as well as the center piece, are each constructed of two or more pieces, D D, each of which is provided with two or more transverse grooves, E E, registering with each other, and adapted to receive the connecting-strips F F, for the reception of which the said grooves may be dovetailed, although this is not necessary or essential. A sufficient number of the pieces D D to form a head or partition-piece of the desired width are to be placed together side by side, after which the connecting-strips F F are to be placed in the grooves E E and secured by nails, staples, or other fastening devices, G G, thus forming a piece of no greater weight or thickness than a single plank. By this con struction two distinct and very important advantages'are gained, viz: First, I am enabled to utilize narrow material or lumber, which may usually be had in abundance at a cost which is very much less than that of material of sufficient width to manufacture the heads and ends in single pieces of sufficient size; seeondly. the several component pieces may be placed a slight distance apart, thusprornoting Ventilation, without detracting from the strength of the finished article, which is, in fact, greater than when made of a single piece, which is liable to crack. The heads or ends B B are to be provided on their outer sides with semi-oval recesses H H, having straight and slightly-inclinedupper edges, I I, forrn ing handles, by which the box or crate may be conveniently grasped and carried. From the said recesses narrow slots J J extend transversely through the said heads or ends, serving to supply sufficient ventilation to the interior of the box or crate, without danger of choking or being obstructed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

The construction is simple and inexpensive, and the article possesses numerous advantages, which are so obvious that they do not require to be enlarged upon.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States- 1. A shipping box or crate having heads or ends and a central partition-piece, each of which is constructed of two or 111018 pieces connected by transverse strips seated in grooves or recesses in the said pieces, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. In a shipping box or crate for fruit, vegetables, and the like, a head or end constructed of two or more pieces connected by means of transverse strips seated in grooves in the inner sides of the said pieces, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

and provided on their oute z' .i: itch recesses crates, provided with a semi-eliiptica1 recess or hand-holds, from which ven Hitting-slots exor hand-hold in its outer side, and having a tend through the said on a m wads, substanseries of transverse slots or openings extendtially as and for the purpimos in: rain set forth. I 5

5 ing through the said recess or hand-hold, subin testimony that I chii the ioregoing as stantially as and for the purpose herein set my own I have hereunto aflizx'ed my signature forth. in presence of two witnes es.

4. In a shipping box or crate, a head-piece or BPNJIX Mi N SHUNK. end constructed oftwo or more piecesjoined by \Vitnesses:

- r0 connecting-strips seated in transverse grooves T. E. BUQKMMI,

in the inner sides of the said heads or ends, C. BUOKMAN.

3. A head or end for shipping boxes or 

